Brownsville Community Foundation Mission

The mission of the Brownsville Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life for people in Brownsville by promoting philanthropy, building permanent charitable endowments, and addressing community needs.

What is the Brownsville Community Foundation?

We are a non-profit. The Brownsville Community Foundation qualifies as a Section 501 (c)(3) public charity under the Internal Revenue Code. Every fund created in the Brownsville Community Foundation qualifies for the maximum charitable deduction permitted by law.

We are geographically focused. Community foundations like ours focus on a local area where we can get to know every social need, every organization, and every neighborhood. That way, we know where to put our donors' gifts so they do the most good.

We are well governed. The Board of the Brownsville Community Foundation provide stewardship for all contributed funds. Serving without compensation, the board members approve all grants made, review investment performance and oversee the operation of the Foundation. The men and women who make up our Board represent Brownsville's most distinguished civic and business leaders. Their charge is to serve our donors and our community.

We provide a service to donors. The Brownsville Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides expert, efficient administrative services for funds created by individuals, families and organizations in our community.

We support local non-profits organizations.

Free Internet for Qualified Citizens of the RGV!

The Foundation will be the facilitator of the Educational Technology Program for the Rio Grande Valley through Public Wireless Company.

We have an opportunity to provide tablets with broadband service completely free to all of the eligible students, veterans, and underprivileged in the RGV community.

Eligibility is income based. The program is completely funded through grants and donations for at least the next five years. 

How it works:

In the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Congress appropriated $3.2 billion to the FCC to help low-income households pay for broadband service and connected internet devices called The Emergency Broadband Benefit, it was temporary. 

It did so well, it transitioned to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) beginning December 31, 2021. The FCC reached out to private entities. To expand the knowledge base and to reach additional markets, the FCC reached out to private entities like Public Wireless- a thirty-year wireless company. Public Wireless, using the current ACP as a foundation, has developed The Educational Technology Program (ETP). Instead of households getting a discount for broadband services and devices, now they pay nothing. The Foundation is the local facilitator.

This is what is included in the ETP completely free of charge for qualified applicants:   

• 10” Tablet with a Hardcase Cover.
• SIM Card that provides 24/7 LTE Broadband Internet Service. 
• Repair Program – if broken or damaged, send it in and we will send a brand new replacement.
• 24/7 Tech Support and Customer Service. 

There is absolutely no responsibility, cost, or strings attached for the recipients. There is never a bill and they will own the tablet. 

APPLY HERE